The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
The Press and Banner.
Twelve Pages.
ednesday, Dec. 81. 1887.
Christmas Customs.

bolic recognition of the eternity of tile
Son of God, who became little child.
The evergreen" is adapted to express
this symbolism, because it preserves
its foliage and life while other trees
seem to die at the approach of winter,
and to return to life in the spring.
The custom came in, doubtless, with
the spread of Christianity among the
nations of Northern Europe, where
the people had been accustomed to fill
the heather temples at this season
with branches of evergreens. The
missionaries, finding this q tradition,
accepted it as one of the "unconscous
prophecies Of heathenism," and so
made it a means of preaching Christ,
as they did also the legend of Baldur,
''the dying god," ho was slain by the
spirit of evil, and returned to life
again. The vitality of the custom
shows the wisdom of the early mis-
sionaries in adopting and Christianiz-
ing it, rather than permit sltr to be
cast upon it because of its confessedly
heather origin. 1t is to be noted that
the mistletoe is not allowed in the
churches, because it was sacred in
heather rites.
Connected with the evergreen de co
ration is the Christmas-tree, which
makes the young people so happy on
Christmas-eve. This is of German Or
igin. The symbolism of the Christ
mas-tree is prettily explained in DIR.
Hopkins well-known carol, "Gather
Around the Christmas-tree." The
evergreen signifies the eternity of our
Saviour. the lights that He is the light
of the world, and the gifts that He is
the giver of all grace and good.
The connection of Santa Claus and
hanging up the stocking with Christ
mas-eve is post-reformation, and came
to this country with the Holland
Dutch who settled in New York.
The proper festival of st. Nicholas,
or Santa Claus, is December 6, on
which, in olden time, the tete of the
"boy-bishop" was held; doubtless or
iginating in the desire to furnish
amusement to the children educated
in the monasteries, and employed in
the choirs of churches. The boy-bish-
op was elected OH St. Nicholas day.
and held office among the children till
Holy Innocents' day. "After this
election" says Brand, "being COM
pletely appareled in the episcopal vest
ment, with miter and crosier, he bore
the title and state of bishop, and ex-
acted ceremonial observance from his
followers, who were draped like
priests. On Holy Innocents' eve, the
boy-bishop, with all the other child
rem of the choir, read prayers in the
church."
st. Nicholas is the patron saint of
sailors as we'll as of children, and was,
probably, for this reason, the saint of
the Hollanders, who came to this coun-
try. His connection with the secret
giving of presents "originated from
the legendary account of the saint
having given portions to three daugh-
ters of poor citizen, whose necessi-
ties had driven him to an intention of
selling their virtue; and this he effect
ed by throwing purse filled with
money, privately at night, in at the fa-
theirs bedroom window. to enable
him to portion them out honestly"
"There is festival or ceremony OBJ
served in Italy," says Brand. ION st.
Nicholas day, wherein persons hide
presents in the shoes and slippers of
those they do honor to, in such man
ner as may surprise them on the NOR
row when they come to dress. This,
it is reported, is done in honor of st.
Nicholas, who used in the night time
to throw purses in at the windows of
poor maids to be married portions to
them. In several converts in France
it is customary, on the eve of st. Mich
olas, for the 6cdrders to place q silk
stocking at the door of the apartment
of the abbess, with piece Of paper
enclosed, recommending themselves to
great st. Nicholas of her chamber !;
and the next day they were called to-
yether to witness the saints attention,
who never failed to fill the stockings
with swppt-meats and other trifles of
that kind, with which these credulous
make general feast"
st. Nicholas was born in Patara, q
city of Lycia, and for his piety from a
layman was made Bishop of Myra.
He died December 9th, a. d. 343,
which is, therefore, his festival in the
Greek and Roman Churches.
The change Of giving presents in his
name on ChriStmaS-eve arose, as we
said, among the Protestants after the